1 I srael is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.

Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth its fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars; according to the goodness and prosperity of their land they have made goodly pillars or obelisks.

2 T heir heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.

Their heart is divided and deceitful; now shall they be found guilty and suffer punishment. The Lord will smite and break down their altars; He will destroy their pillars.

3 S urely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?

Surely now they shall say, We have no king because we fear not the Lord; and as for the king, what can he do for us?

4 T hey speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

They have spoken mere words of the lips, swearing falsely in making covenants; therefore judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 T he inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calf of Beth-aven, for its people shall mourn over it and its priests who rejoiced over it for the glory of, because it is departed from it.

6 I t also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

shall also be carried into Assyria as a tribute-gift to the fighting King Jareb; Ephraim shall be put to shame and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

7 A s for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.

As for Samaria, her king and her whole monarchy are cut off like twigs or foam upon the water.

8 T he high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us! And to the hills, Fall on us!

9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah.

O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah! There stood that the battle against the sons of unrighteousness might not overtake and turn against them at Gibeah.

10 W hen it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.

When I please I will chastise them, and hostile peoples shall be gathered against them when I shall bind and yoke them for their two transgressions.

11 A nd Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim indeed is a heifer broken in and loving to tread out the grain, but I have spared the beauty of her fair neck. I will now set a rider upon Ephraim and make him to draw; Judah shall plow and Jacob shall break his clods.

12 S ow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.

13 Y e have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

You have plowed and plotted wickedness, you have reaped the injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way and your chariots, in the multitude of your mighty men,

14 T herefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

Therefore shall a tumult arise against your people and all your fortresses shall be wasted and destroyed, as Shalmaneser wasted and destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle; the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

15 S o shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

So shall it be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness; at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.